EJSCREEN:

EPAs Environmental
Justice Screening Tool
March 10, 2016

Background of EJSCREEN
EPAs new tool for nationally consistent EJ screening and
mapping
Web-based Geographic Information System (GIS) tool and data

Product of Plan EJ 2014

Builds upon National Environmental Justice Advisory
Committee report on EJ screening, and prior EPA experience
Peer reviewed by experts in 2013
Released to the public in 2015

EJSCREEN Overview Presentation

Key Features
12 EJ Indexes one for each environmental indicator
Annually updated demographics from most recent U.S.
Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
Web accessible
Standard printable reports, maps, and bar graphs
Higher resolution maps
Raw data downloads will also be available

EJSCREEN Overview Presentation

How Can EJSCREEN Be Used?

A tool for everyone a basis for further dialogue,

engagement, and examination

Since the public release, stakeholders have found many

different applications

EPA uses EJSCREEN in various

contexts
Outreach and engagement
Many aspects of environmental
programs
Geographically-based initiatives

EJSCREEN Overview Presentation

EPA outreach meeting after Hurricane Katrina

(2006)

Limitations For Using EJSCREEN

EJSCREEN is a starting point. It is a pre-decisional screening
tool; does not direct final outcomes for EPA.
EJSCREEN highlights places for further review for the
potential for EJ concerns.
Baseline screening should be supplemented with local
information and experience.
Should not be used to label areas as EJ Communities.

EJSCREEN Overview Presentation

Environmental Indicators
Environmental Indicator Raw Data Type (Units)

Indicator Descriptor

Year Data
published

Particulate Matter (PM2.5 in g/m3)

Potential Exposure

2011

Ozone (ppb)

Potential Exposure

2011

* National Air Toxics Assessment (NATA) Diesel PM in (g/m3)

Potential Exposure

N/A

* NATA Air Toxics Cancer Risk (risk per million people)

Hazard/Risk

N/A

* NATA Respiratory Hazard Index

Hazard/Risk

N/A

* NATA Neurological Hazard Index

Hazard/Risk

N/A

Lead Paint Indicator (% pre-1960s Housing)

Potential Exposure

2008-2012

Traffic Proximity (daily traffic count/distance to road)

Proximity

2011

Proximity to National Priority List sites (count/km distance)

Proximity

2013

Proximity to Risk Management Plan facilities (count/km distance)

Proximity

2013

Proximity to Treatment Storage Disposal Facilities (count/km distance) Proximity

2013

Proximity to Major Direct Water Dischargers (count/km distance)

2013

EJSCREEN Overview Presentation

Proximity

Demographic Indicators
Demographic Indicator

Description

Low-Income

% of block group population at or below twice the federal poverty level.

Minority

All people other than non-Hispanic white-alone individuals.

Less than high school education

% of people age 25 or older without a high school diploma.

Linguistic isolation

% of people in household in which all members over age 14 years speak

English less than very well.

Individuals under age 5

% of people in a block group under the age of 5.

Individuals over age 64

% of people in a block group over the age of 64.

EJSCREEN Overview Presentation

(Source: 2008-20012 ACS Estimates)

Viewing EJSCREEN Data

You can view all of the indicators in EJSCREEN within
reports or on maps.
A standard report gives you all the
indicators at once for a single specified
location

A map gives you one indicator at a time, for

each of the block groups within a wider
area (e.g. across several miles)

EJSCREEN Overview Presentation

Questions
and
Demonstration
EJSCREEN Overview Presentation